Voulismeno Aloni
In the direction of Damasta, 5 km after the crossroads for Tylissos (and 15 km west of Heraklion), on the road on the right, the visitor can see Voulismeno Aloni which is 15-38 meters deep. It is a vast, submerged crater in the rocky landscape - an imposing and rare natural monument. The area around Voulismeno Aloni ("the threshing floor that has sunk") has been adequately made accessible for visitors and access to its centre is very easy. Its walls are ideal for climbing. For this reason, there are 12 climbing routes of increased difficulty.
According to the official version, it is the phenomenon of subsidence of the ground, which occurred after the collapse of an underground cave. However, the cave has not been discovered and there is no other information about its existence. In university textbooks, it is referred to as the classic type of doline and its rock is Mesozoic limestone.
According to tradition, this piece of land belonged to a local farmer. One summer, when the harvest was going very well, the farmer, fearing that some sudden bad weather would ruin his crops, decided to work intensively even on the day of the celebration of Prophet Elijah, together with his wife and beautiful daughter. Suddenly, a deafening roar was heard, the earth shook and the ground receded and "swallowed" them. According to legend, this was the punishment of the Saint, who was not honoured by being absent from work on the day of his celebration. The tradition lasts to this day and it is said that every year, on the 20th of July, screams from the girl's voice are heard from Voulismeno Aloni.